Published February McGill - Office for Science and Society. Under the microscope: Blood. Published March Relating oxygen partial pressure, saturation and content: the haemoglobin-oxygen dissociation curve. Mechanisms of hypoxemia. Lung India. Human adaptation to hypoxia in critical illness. J Appl Physiol. Caboot J, Allen J. Hypoxemia in sickle cell disease: Significance and management. Paediatr Respir Rev. Ferdinand P, Roffe C. Hypoxia after stroke: a review of experimental and clinical evidence.
Exp Trans Stroke Med. Hypoxia-related parameters during septic shock resuscitation: Pathophysiological determinants and potential clinical implications. Yale Medicine. Should you really have a pulse oximeter at home? Published May National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Cerebral hypoxia information page. Updated March Anemia and transfusion of red blood cells. Colomb Med. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.
These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. The test can't diagnose specific diseases, but if your results are not normal, your health care provider will order more tests to confirm or rule out a diagnosis. If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider.
Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results. Another type of test, called pulse oximetry, also checks blood oxygen levels. This test doesn't use a needle or require a blood sample.
In pulse oximetry, a small clip-like device with a special sensor is attached to your fingertip, toe, or earlobe. Since the device measures oxygen "peripherally" in an outer area , the results are given as peripheral oxygen saturation, also known as SpO2. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.
Blood Oxygen Level. What is a blood oxygen level test? What is it used for? The test usually includes the following measurements: Oxygen content O2CT. This measures the amount of oxygen in the blood. Oxygen saturation O2Sat. This measures the amount of hemoglobin in your blood. Hemoglobin is a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. Partial pressure of oxygen PaO2. This measures the pressure of oxygen dissolved in the blood.
Your health insurance may cover the expense. These conditions may prevent your lungs from adequately inhaling oxygen-containing air and exhaling carbon dioxide. Likewise, blood disorders and problems with your circulatory system may prevent your blood from picking up oxygen and transporting it throughout your body.
Any of these problems or disorders can lead to declining oxygen saturation levels. As your oxygen levels fall, you may begin experiencing symptoms of hypoxemia. People who smoke may have an inaccurately high pulse ox reading. Smoking causes carbon monoxide to build up in your blood. If you smoke and need to know your blood oxygen level, an ABG may be the only way to receive an accurate reading. Only people with health problems that cause low oxygen states are usually asked to check their levels.
Even then, the less invasive pulse oximetry method is often as useful as an invasive ABG. Although it does have a margin of error, a pulse ox reading is usually accurate enough. If your doctor requires a more precise measurement, they can follow up with an ABG test. Read this article in Spanish.
Poor circulation is most common in your extremities, such as your legs and arms. Learn more about the symptoms and causes of poor circulation. Over time, COPD can lead to hypoxia, a condition marked by low oxygen levels. Discover the symptoms of COPD hypoxia here. Learn how to manage this…. Rapid, shallow breathing, also called tachypnea, occurs when you take more breaths than normal in a given minute. Learn its causes, treatments, and…. Acute respiratory failure occurs when fluid builds up in the air sacs in your lungs.
When that happens, your lungs can't release oxygen into your…. Peripheral cyanosis is often caused by cold temperatures, but it can also indicate that you have a medical issue. Learn about diagnosis, treatment…. Chronic respiratory failure is an ongoing condition that develops over time. There is a range of devices for delivering and monitoring HOT, but some of them are considered medications and need a prescription. Some self-care measures can be taken by people to reduce symptoms of shortness of breath and improve general health and quality of life.
These include:. Low oxygen levels in the blood are not necessarily harmful and can occur in people who can recover, or in healthy people when they are at high altitude.
These people do not need to monitor their blood oxygen levels regularly. But people with chronic lung diseases, such as COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, or emphysema, may have blood oxygen levels below the normal because of their illness.
These people may require regular blood oxygen monitoring. People with low blood oxygen can also make lifestyle changes, such as not smoking or improving their diet and exercise habits, as well as being treated with supplemental oxygen. Read the article in Spanish. What are red blood cell disorders? Read on to learn more about these conditions, including the different types and examples of RBC disorders. White blood cells fight infection. If someone has too many white blood cells, they may have an underlying condition, such as an infection or cancer….
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